Brian Stelter, a chief media analyst at CNN and former New York Times reporter, joked about building "condos in Gaza," provoking social media users to slam him for his comment.
"Out: 'Condoms in Gaza.' In: Condos in Gaza?" Stelter wrote in an X post shared Tuesday.
Stelter's post came hours after Trump claimed the U.S. would remove remove Palestinians, take over and rebuild the Gaza Strip during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.
The CNN analyst was also referring to President Trump's debunked claim that the US sent $50 million in condoms to Gaza.
Out: "Condoms in Gaza."
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 5, 2025
In: Condos in Gaza?
Global media outlets, advocates and world leaders accused Trump of promoting ethnic cleansing for Israel to take over the Gaza Strip. Social media users condemned Stelter for using his platform to seemingly support this endeavor.
"Chief media analyst at CNN casually joking about ethnic cleansing," X user @JPHilllllll wrote.
Chief media analyst at CNN casually joking about ethnic cleansing https://t.co/uAmhpZ3yt3
— Read Abolish Rent (@JPHilllllll) February 5, 2025
"CNN's Chief Media Analyst - who, along with much else, justified the Israeli targeting of press offices in Gaza during the 2021 assault - thinks the threatened eradication of Gaza is funny," Sana Saeed, a Bollywood actress, added.
CNN’s Chief Media Analyst - who, along with much else, justified the Israeli targeting of press offices in Gaza during the 2021 assault - thinks the threatened eradication of Gaza is funny. https://t.co/yxAdNRhK0M
— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) February 5, 2025
"What's next, an Auschwitz joke?" American journalist Ali Abunimah quipped.
What’s next, an Auschwitz joke?
— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) February 5, 2025
"Does becoming a wealthy elite fry people's brains and erase all empathy? How are you a journalist?" investigative journalist Zeynab Day queried.
Does becoming a wealthy elite fry people's brains and erase all empathy? How are you a journalist?
— Zeynab Day (@ZeynabDay) February 5, 2025
Many social media users wondered why Stelter could keep his position as a high-profile media journalist while joking about ethnic cleansing.
"One of my [sic] America's highest profile media journalists is a) reinforcing the lie about condoms in Gaza, Palestine b) making light of ethnic cleansing c) reducing one of the gravest moral stories of our time to a joke d) dishonoring the memory 200+ murdered journalists," X user @thrasherxy pointed out.
One of my America's highest profile media journalists is
— Dr. Thrasher (@thrasherxy) February 5, 2025
a) reinforcing the lie about condoms in Gaza, Palestine
b) making light of ethnic cleansing
c) reducing one of the gravest moral stories of our time to a joke
d) dishonoring the memory 200+ murdered journalists https://t.co/xcmOZf1GIq
"If this was a joke about the ethnic cleansing of Israelis or Ukrainians, it would be career ending," X user @briantashman wrote.
If this was a joke about the ethnic cleansing of Israelis or Ukrainians, it would be career ending https://t.co/aLe022GlF5
— Brian Tashman (@briantashman) February 5, 2025
"Hey @cnn, are you comfortable with your guy joking like a ghoul about ethnic cleansing and genocide?" a third X user added.
Hey @cnn , are you comfortable with your guy joking like a ghoul about ethnic cleansing and genocide? https://t.co/5amQreIX7a
— koumdros (@koumdros) February 5, 2025
As of Wednesday, neither Stelter nor CNN responded to the backlash.
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